Flying-machine.



C. GIROLAMI.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 13, 1910. 1,124 415 Patented Jan.12,'1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. GIROLAMI.

FLYING MACHINE.

' APPLIOATION FILED APB--18, 1910. v 1,124,415. Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

6 SEBETS-SHBET 2.

C. GIROLAMI. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 18, 1910.

Patented Jan.12,1915.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3.

G. GIROLAMI.

FLYING MACHINE.

G. GIROLAMI. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IVILIQD APlLm, 1910.

5 Mm Am 2 w 3 u Mn .6 m P .ww v

'matic equilibrating device.

UNITED STATES CHARLES GIROLAMI, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLYING-MACIIINE.

Application filed April 18,

To all whom it ma? concern:

Be it known tiat I, CHARLES GIROL'AMI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of ,Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to air ships and has for its primary object to provide an improved construction, combination and arrangement of parts in a flying machine.

One ofthe objects-of the present invention is to provide improved means for maintaining the balance of a flying machine whereby the machine is enabled to right itself automatically when displaced from a position of normal equilibrium. 7

More specifically stated, one object of this ,invention is to provide improved means operable by the movement of the machine from normal upright position, for bringing it back to such normal position. A

Another object is to provide improved means for maintaining the machine on .a

substantially level keel as it rises into the air or descends.

Another object is to provide an improved body structure for a heavier-than-air machine. e

Other and further objects will appear in the specification and be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being,

had to the accompanying drawings. exemplifying the invention, and in which Figure l'is a top plan view of an air-ship constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail fragmentary plan view of the auto- Fig. 5 is a side elevation, parts being shown in section, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a section on the line VI-VI, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of the 'bow of the ship showing the adjustable guide vane for changing the elevation. Fig. 8 is a section on the line VHF-VIII, Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of portions of the air ship shown. in Fig. 9. Fig. '11 is an enlarged detail perspective view of portions shown in Fi s. 9 and 10.

In the exempli cation lot the invention shown in the drawings, the flying machine Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

191p. Seria1No.55 6,210.

consists of a long slender boat-shaped body 1, said body being inclosed throughout by alight sheathing of any suitable material, such as aluminum, specially-prepared silk or the like, with the exception of the central upper portion which is open for the ingress and egress of passengers and freight. Mounted on the body 1 is a pair of laterally pro ecting wing planes 2, 3, each of said planes being provided with a plurality of movable portions illustrated in the present exemplification by vanes 4 and 5, pivotally mounted at the front of said wings and the vanes. 6 and 7 pivotally mounted on the lateral" edges of said \vi1igs,said vanes bemg respectively provided. with projecting arms connected above by wires to the wires -35, 36, and below with wires 39 and 40 (see Figs. 1 and 4). Extending longitudinally of the body 1 and preferably rearwardly from the winged planes 2 and 3, is a tail plane 8 provided with laterally projecting portions 9 and 10, and with movable vanes 11 and 12 pivotally connected with the frame of said portions 9 and 10. The vanes 4 and 5 are connected in a manner to be hereinafter pointed out with a swinging carryingmember or pendulum in such manner as will adapt said Wings to right the machine to a normal position of equilibrium when it is displaced therefrom by reason of a gust of wind or other cause. In a similar manner, the vanes 11 and 12 are also connected with said pendulum or carrying member to right the machine in the event of its pitching into a position at an angle with the horizontal. On the forward end of the airship is mounted an angularly movable guide vane or aeroplane 13 which is adapted, in a way to be pointed out, to be moved into different positions to guide the air ship upwardly or downwardly. For propelling the air ship it may be provided with one or more engines, such as are indicated at 14 and 15, which engines connect by suitable shafts 16, 17, with propellers 18, 19.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the wings 2 and 3 of the flying machine are each provided with a substantially flat portion 20 and a drooping rearwardly extending portion 21, said drooping portion as shown best in Fig.

3 being deflected downwardly to the greatthe rear end ofithe ship while on the ground. In the same way a pair of supporting wheels 7 24 on thee'nds of two pivotally and resiliently mounted levers 25 serve to bear up the front end of the machine when on the around, said levers 25 being brought together and provided with an auxiliarycarrying wheel 26-which, when the machine 'descends, is swung around onto the ground to aid in supporting the descending weight thereof. Toward the attainment of oneof the objects of this invention, theflying machine is provided with a carrying member suspended in such a manner as to permit a relative movement laterally or lon itudinally under the shifting positions 0 the aeroplane.- In order to provide automatic means for righting the machine after it has. assumed an abnormal position and to make axis of the bar 27 and in members rigidly fixed to the framework of the ship. In this manner any weight carried by the pendulum bar 27 is'connected with the frame .lnent peru'iittim or longitudinally to assume a vert1cal pos1- work of the aeroplane with auniversal movesaid bar to swing laterally tionunder any movement of the aeroplane.

' In this exem lification of the-invention an l 31, said shaft being connected at either end engine 15, which may be of'any suitable con.- structlon, [8 connected up todrive the rear propeller 19 by means of an extensible shaft 17 comprising telescoping sections 30 and by universal couplings 32 and 33. The pendulum bar 27 is extended upwardly to provide a lever arm 34 to'the extremity of which are secured cords 35 and 36 forming a flexible. connection between the; lever arm 34 and each of the'movable vanes 4 and 5 re. spectively. To adaptthe pendulum bar 27 'toalter the ositions of the vanes 4 and 5 I when there as a. rolling movement of the aeroplane,v said. vanes are provided with rods or levers 37, 38, which pass normally through said vanes and are secured thereto, the upper outer ends of said rods being secured to the cords 35 and 36. The depend ing ends of saidrods 37 and 38 are connected respectively with cords 39 and 40, which cords are in turn connected to the pendulum bar 27 below-its point of pivotal support. The operating cords 35 and 36, 39 and 40 are mounted in suitable guides along the wings. By this description it will be'noted that when the aeroplane tilts laterally the vanes 4 and 5 will be moved respectively upwardly or downwardly according to as moved by the pendulum will be sufficient.

As shown in Fig. 5-, there are two operating cords 44 and 45 connecting the extremities of the lever 43 with the extremities of the lever 46 rig dly connected tothe vane 12 for varying the position of said vane during a pitching 'movement of the machine. It will'be seen by this descriptionthat should the machine plunge forwardly, the engine 15 would swing forwardly and throw the 9 vane 12 upwardly, there being thereby produced on said vane 12a pressure tending to return the ship to normal position.

Referring now to Fig. 7, which illustrates means for raising and lowering the flying machine, the movahleheadvane 13 is pivotally connected at its forward end by alink 47 to the frame work of the machine. Adjacent the center of said vane 13 is mounted a cross head bar or slide 48 which is slidably mounted in guide ways 49 whereby it is adapted to be reciprocated forwardly and rearwardlyto change the angular position of the vane 13. As an example of suitable means for effecting this reciprocation said cross head bar 48 is connected by cards or otherflexible connections 50, 51, with a I hand operating lever 52 on oppositesides .of'the pivot 53. By thisco'nstruction the operatormay move'the vane 13 into any de- SlIGd posit on by operating the lever 52.

Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, the cmbod1ment shown therein is substantially the same as the embodiment already described with the exception that the automatic means-for adjusting the positions of the vanes .4 and 5 and 11 and 12 consists of aplatform 54 (see Fig. 10) which .is-sus-,

pended from the framework of the flying m'achine by a-universal-connection now to be described. This suspension as illustrated consists of a" pair of oppositely disposed stlrrups 55. 56, which pass under the ex tremities of the platform 54, said stirrups being pivotally mounted above, preferably in ball bearings at? and 58, carried by vmembers 59 and 60, said, members being also mounted in ball bearings within portions that are rig'dly connected to the framework of the machine. On the rear member vanes 11 and 12. The stirrup 56 is provided above and below its pivotal connection with the cross member 60 with extensions 67 and 68 to which are attached the cords for operating the lateral vanes 4 and 5 as already pointed out.

Referring now to Fig. 9 the auxiliary movable 'vanes 6 and 7, are pivotally mounted on the outer extremity of the aeroplanes 2 and 3 respectively and connected up in a manner similar'to that already pointed out in connection with vanes 4 and 5, to the cords 35, 36,.and 39, 40.

The operation of the device will now be' understood. Briefly stated, it is as follows: W hen the aeroplane is sailing along in normal upright position, the engine 15 forming a pendulum depends vertically downwardly and serves to hold the movable vanes 4,5, 6. 7, 11 and 12 in conformity to the surface ofthe fixed planes by means of the connections hereinbel'ore pointed out. Should, now, something happen to depress the wing plane '2, the engine 15 would swing toward the wing plane 2 in such manner as to rock the vertical arm 27 (see Fig. 5) to swing the upper end thereof away from the wing 2. This movement results in drawing the wire or cable 36 tight, causing the movable plane 4 to drop downwardly and the edge wing 6 to move upwardly, said wings being in positions tending .to raise the wing 2 into normal position. At the same time the wire or cable 35 on the right hand side being loosed while the under cable 40 is drawn tight, the movable plane '5 is moved upwardly and the movable plane 7 moved downwardly into positions tending to de' press the wing plane 3. It will thus be seen that the weight of the engine 'acts automati cally to right the aeroplane when it is moved out of normal, position. In a similar manner, the action'is reversed when the tilting .is in the opposite direction. Should the flying machine plunge forwardly and downwardly, the engine 15 swings toward the front end of the machine, and causes the upper end of thelever 27 to move backwardly in such manner as to raise the vanes 11 and 12 into dotted line position shown in Fig. This position of the vanes 11-.and 1:2 creates a pressure on the tail plane tending to force it downwardly, and so to maintain the ship on a level keel. If for any reason the tail end of the machine should drop, the action would be exactly the opposite, the movable planes 11 and 12 being thrown downwardly and causing an air pressure tending to move them upwardly again into-normal position.

What I claim isa body frame and wing 1. In an aeroplane, the combination with a fixed plane, of a propeller, a movable plane, an engine, means for suspending said engine from said fixedplane, said means adapting'the engine to swing relatively to said fixed plane and to the propeller shaft,

means operatively connecting the engine to said movable plane, and flexible extensible means for operatively connecting saidengine to said propeller. 2. In an aeroplane, the combination with a fixed plane, of a propeller, movable planes, an engine support suspended from said fixed plane with a universal movement, said support being operatively connected to said movable planes, an engine on said support, and means operatively connecting said engine to said propeller, said means being extensible and flexible, whereby the engine will swing with respect to the propeller.

3. In an aeroplane, the combination'with a fixed plane, of a movable plane for maintainingequilibrium, a propeller, an engine for driving the same, extensible means operatively'connecting the engine with the propeller for free swinging movement with respect to thepropeller, and automatic means for adjusting said movable plane, said means being controlled by said engine.

4. In an aeroplane, the combination with a fixed plane, of a movable plane for maintaining transverse equilibrium, a second movableplane for maintaining longitudinal equilibrium, a propeller, an engine for driving same, extensible means connecting the engine with the propeller for free swinging movement with respect to the propeller, and automatic means actuated by the weightot' the engine for adjusting said movableplanes simultaneously and independently.

5. In an aeroplane, the combination with a fixed plane provided with movable portions for equilibrating the ship transversely, of a second fixed plane rovided with movable portions for eqmlibrating the ship longitudinally, a propeller for said aeroplane, a pendulum free to swing in any direction under the action of gravity, said pendulum being connected to each of said the engine to said propeller.

6. In an air ship, the combination with a body frame and wing planes provided with stabilizers, of a head plane slidably and pivotally connected with said body frame.

7. In an air ship, the combination witha 1 body frame and wing planes provided with stabilizers, of a head plane slidably and pivotally connected with. said body frame, and means for changing the angular position of said head plane.

8. In an air ship," the combination with (planes provided with stabilizers, of a bee plane slidably nection along one'edge, and a pivotal link connection along another edge with said body ortion."

a body portion and aeroplanes mounted thereon, of a head plane having a slidable connection along one edge, a pivotal link connection along another edge with said body portion, and means for reciprocating the slidably-connected edge.

11. In an aeroplane, the combination with a fixed plane, of an engine swingingly mounted on said lane, movable planes carried by said fixed plane, a propeller rotatably mounted on said fixed plane, and a telescoping shaft extending between said propeller and engine, said shaft being provided with universal couplings at either end to join the shaft to the engine and propeller respectively, and means for transmitting the swinging movement of the engine to the movable planes.

12. In an air ship, the combination with a fixed plane provided with movable portions for equilibrating theship transversely, of a second fixed plane provided with movable portions for equilibrating the ship longitudinally, and a pendulum free to swing,

in any direction under the action of gravity, the said pendulum being'connected to each of said movable portionsv 13. In an air ship, the combination with a fixed plane comprising laterally-projecting wings, each of said wings. being provided with an angularly movable portion for directing that wing upwardly or downwardly, a second fixed plane extending lon-' gitudinally of the ship :and provided with angularly movable portions for adjusting the longitudinal pitch of the ship, and auto-- matic means for actuating said movable portions, the movable portions on opposite wings being moved in opposite directions by said automatic means. 7

14. In an air ship, the combination with a fixed plane comprising opposite laterally disposed wings, each of said wings being provided with angularly movable portions, 2. rearwardly extending fixed plane provided with movable portions, means depending from said ship and movable in, all .directions under the action of gravity, and means for connecting said depending means to each of said movable portions, the movable portions of said rearwardly extending plane eing moved up and down together to maintain the ship in substantially level keel and 10. u an air ship, at combination withthe movable portions of said oppositely disposed wings being moved oppositely to maintain a substantially level beam.

15. In an air ship, the combination with a frame, of a carrying member movabl'y suspended therefrom, and a pairof lateral Wings mounted on said frame, each of said wings being provided with a pivotally mounted portion on the outside lateral edge, and a second pivotally mounted portion on the front edge thereof. i a v 16. In an air ship the combination with.

a frame, of a carrying member movably suspended therefrom, and a pair ofdateral wings. mounted on said frame, portions of said wings adjacent the lateral edges being deflectible with respect to the remaining portions, anotherportion of said wings being deflectible transversely with respect to the first recited defiectible ortions.

17. In an air ship, the com ination with the body, of lateral wings drooping rearwardly, a tail plane drooping rearwardly, vanes pivotally connected to said planes, and a carrying member suspended from the body and operably connected to said vanes.

18. In an air ship, the combination with a body, of wing planes the rear portion only of which droops downwardly and inwardly toward the body.

19. In an air ship, the combination with a body portion, of wing planes having each a substantially horizontal fiat portion and each having a portion drooping inwardly and 'rearwardly toward the body.

20. In an air ship, the combination with a body portion, of wing planes having each a substantially horizontal flat portion and each having a portion drooping inwardly and rearwardly toward the body, and a rear plane having a downwardly and rearwardly deflected portion. I

21. In an air ship, the combination with a fixed plane provided with movable portions for equilibrating the ship transversely, of a second plane provided with movable portions for equilibrating the ship longitudinally, and a motor free toswing in any direction under the action of gravity, said motor being connected to each of said movable portions. I

22. In an air ship, the combination of a propeller rotatable about a fixed axis, a motor oscillable aboutanother axis, means for operatively connecting the propeller. with said motor, said means including an ex-, tensible joint, and movable aero lanes oper-, atively connected to and parta ring of the swinging movement of said motor whereby said air ship is maintained in transverse and longitudinalequilibrium.

23. In an air ship, the combination of a propeller rctatable about a fixed axis, a moed for -swinging movement witn. respect to the pro eller, a universal and an. extensible connection between the propeller and motor, and a movable aeroplane operatively connected to and partaking of the swinging movement of said motor whereby the air ship ismaintained in equilibrium.

24. In an air ship, the combination of a propeller rotatable about a fixed axis, a motor oscillable aboutanother axis and adapted for swinging movement with respect to the propeller, a universal and an extensible connection between the propeller and motor, a movable aeroplane operatively connected to and partaking of the swinging movement of said motor whereby said air ship is maintained in equilibrium, said connection also partaking of the swinging movement of the motor.

25. In an air ship, the combination with the main body frame, a motor swingingly suspended therefrom, a rotary element driven by said motor and partaking of its swinging movement, a propeller driving shaft rotatable about an axis fixed with respect to the body frame and with iespect to which shaft the motor is adapted .to swing, a universal and an extensible connection between said shaft and rotary element, and means actuated by the swinging movement of the motor for maintaining the ship in equilibrium.

26. In an air ship, the combination with a main body frame and a motor swingingly suspended therefrom, a rotary element driven by said motor and partaking of its swinging movement, a propeller shaft rotatable about an axis fixed with respect to the body frame and with respect to which shaft the motor has a 'swingingmovement, a universal connection and an extensible connection between the shaft and the said rotary element, and means actuated by the swinging movement of the motor for maintaining the ship in equilibrium, said connection being operative during the swinging movement of the motor.

'27. In an air ship, the combination with a rigid frame, of a propeller driving shaft JOUIDfllQd in said frame, a motor movably,

suspended from said frame to swing about two intersecting axes, a rotating element driven by the motor, said element also partaking of the swinging movement of the motor, means extensible connecting said rotary element in driving relation to said propeller shaft, said means being operative during the swinging movements of said motor,

and movable aeroplanes partaking of the swinging movements of the motor.

28. In an aeroplane, the combination with a fixed plane provided with movable portions for equilibrating the ship transversely, of a second fixed plane provided with movable portions for eq uilibratin'g the ship longitudinally, a propeller for said aeroplane, a. pendulum free to swing in any direction under the action .of gravity, said pendulum being connected to each of said movingportions, an engine carried by the pendulum, and means operatively connecting'said engine and the propeller, said means being extensible and flexible.

29. In an air ship, the combination with a frame, of a carrying member movably suspended therefrom, a pair of lateral wings mounted in said frame, portions of said wings adjacent the lateral edges being defiectible with respect to the remaining portions, another portion of said wings being deflectible transversely with respect to the first recited deflectible portions, and means connecting said deflectible portions with said carrving member.

30. In an air ship, the combination with a frame, of a carrying member movably suspended therefrom, a pair of lateral wings mounted in said frame, portions of said wings adjacent the lateral edges being deflectible with respect to the remaining portions, another portion of said wings being deflectible transversely with respect to the first recited deflectible portions, and means for causing said deflectible portions to partake of the respective swinging movements of the carrying member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this l-lth day A. O. KNIGHT, M. IV. CANTWELL. 

